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BY JEANETTE EBERLIN RIZZELLO

Hazelwood’s Trade Center is on the verge of changing into an attractive, bustling and eye catching area – in other words “getting a face lift.”

So said some city officials after several public hearings recently on the Bommarito Automotive Group’s plans that would establish a Volkswagon dealership and a vehicle service and repair facility on the 14-acre site t. At a previous meeting the city council had approved a separate Honda dealership.

Edward J. Griesedieck, representing Bommarito, gave a pictorial presentation of the plans which include: the Honda dealership is to be located adjacent to the Big Foot facility on the east side of the property, the vehicle service and repair facility (body shop) directly west of Honda, and the Volkswagon dealership west of that adjacent to Brookes Park. All of these facilities will be in separate buildings.

Four out of the five buildings on the site will be torn down; the only one remaining will be the Trade Center building next to Big Foot. Bommarito has met with the residents whose rear yards abut the project and agreed to a 35 foot buffer between the yards and the development. Residents also will be given access to go in and out through the property.

Bommarito sought a change in zoning from C-2 General Commercial to C-3 Highway Commercial and special land use permits for the buildings. They also requested sign variances for the buildings and an off-site sign located in front of the Dale’s Music building on the west side of Lindbergh. An off-site sign is one that is located quite a distance from the business’ location; in this instance Bommarito’s planned buildings are to be located almost about a fourth of a mile on Brookes Drive and the Utz Lane intersection. All the requests were temporarily approved and given first reading.

The Bommarito firm has a Nissan dealership on Pershall Road directly across I-270 from the proposed development. It has operated there for several years.

After the meeting Public Works Director Tom Manning breathed a sigh of relief, said: “This will definitely provide a ‘face lift’ for the area. It has been a code enforcement problem for the past five years and it will have a positive impact on improving the looks of the area.”

Mayor T.R. Carr added : “The Bommarito development represents a $12 million investment that will significantly improve an area in need of redevelopment.

“This kind of private sector investment represents the bright future of the city of Hazelwood.”

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